Regenerative water softener for automatic washing machines



May 13, 1941.

REGENERATIVE WATER SOFTENER FOR AUTOMATI G WASHING MACHINES SU PLY E. PICK Filed Sept. 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 c0132 WATER E. PICK May 13, 1941.

2,241,887 REGENER'ATIVE WATERSOFTENER FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 21, 1938 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 12., 1941. p 2,241,887

, REGENERATIVE WATER SOFTENER FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES T Filed Sept. 21, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 'May 13, 1941. E. PIC-K REGENERATIVE WATER SOFTENER FOR AUTOMATIOWASHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BACK WASH SOFTBNING REGENE RTING Patented May 13, 1941 REGENERATIVE WATER SOFTENER. FOR. AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Eric Pick, East Rockaway, N. Y., assignor to The.

Permutit Company, New York, N. Y., a commation of Delaware Application September 21, 1938, Serial No. 231,040

(01. came) 3 Claims.

tainer for water softening material such as zeolites,'provided with a valve mechanism adapted upon adjustment to four positions to direct the flow of water from said automatic water feed variously through four paths of flow within said softening means, said paths of flow comprising a downward flow of all the incoming water through the water-softening material and upward flow of all the incoming water through the watersoftening bed, by-pass flow of all the incoming water through said valve to the outlet without passing through the water-softening bed, and a how of part of the incoming water downward through the water-softening bed while the remainder of the water is by-pa ssed through the valve to the outlet without passing through the water-softening bed, so that by suitable adjustment of said valve mechanism in correlation to the automatic water feed operating on its normal cycle, the water may be softened for use in the washing machine or may be used in regenerating the water-softening capacity of the water soften-.

ing bed in a cycle comprising backwashing, regenerationand rinsing; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

There have recently been developed various forms of automatic washing machines for use in the home, which are usually electrically driven and are provided with an automatic water feed electrically controlled to supply water at predetermined temperatures and in predetermined amounts or for predetermined periods to the tub of the machine in a fixed cycle. By means of this automatic water feed clothes placed in the tub 'of the machine may be carried through a washing cycle including a soaking period, a washing period, and a plurality of rinse periods without being removed from the machine. These operations are performed automatically under optimum preselected conditions of temperature and amount-of water and time of treatment usually by a simple adjustment of a master timer.

The numerous advantages of this type of washing machine are obvious. They are, however,

more or less complicated mechanisms and because they are built as compactly as possible all of their parts are not readily accessible for cleaning. It has been found that in the operation of these modern washing machines in conjunction with a water supply in which the water is relatively hard, some of the insoluble soap precipitates which ordinarily form in hardwater may be deposited in some of the more or less inaccessible parts of the apparatus. These accumulations are objectionable and in some cases may cause damage to the mechanism.

It is desirable therefore that only soft water be used in the automatic type of washing machine. Not only are undesirable accumulations of insoluble soap precipitates avoided but also a better quality wash is effected with a distinct saving of detergent. Moreover, with soft wa-= ter maximum advantage is taken of the benefits of the carefully controlled soaking, washing and rinsing cycle available in such machines.

The present invention comprises in combination a washing machine provided with an automatically controlled water feed and a water soften'ing means adapted to be used in conjunction with said automatic water feed to soften the water used in said machine and adapted to be regenerated in position using the normal cycle 'feed line of the automatic washing machine and by a simple adjustment of a valve mechanism in correlation with the control mechanism of the washing machine may be used to soften the water supplied to the washing machine during the soaking, washing and rinsing operations of the machine or may have its water-softening capacity regenerated in a cycle comprising for ex ample in a zeolite type of softener, a backwash, a salt solution treatment and a rinse. Furthermore, these operations may be effected without modification of the amount of water fed to the washing machine in each period of its normal cycle as controlled by the automatic control mechanism.

The water-softening means of my invention is simplein its construction and operation, It comprises in general a closed container for watersoftening material such as zeolites or base-exchanging silicates provided at its top with a rotary multiway valve having a water inlet and a water outlet connection, a condultconnection communicating with the inside of said container at its bottom, a port connection communicating the water outlet.

with the inside of said container at its top, a casing having openings communicating with each of said connections, a port plate and a central valve member rotatable on the port plate, said valve member and port plate being adapted upon rotation of the valve member through a plurality of positions to define a plurality of difierent paths of flow of water within said water softening means between the water inlet and The container is also provided with a drainage valve and with stoppered openings through which old water-softening material may be removed and fresh water-softening material or regenerating chemicals may be introduced.

In describing my invention more in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in which one form of my invention particularly adapted to the use of a bed of zeolites as the water-softening material is illustrated more or less diagrammatically and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation partly in section showing in combination a washing machine having an automatically controlled water feed provided with one form of water-softening means according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the water-softening means shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the water-softener shown in Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the valve cap 28 shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the central -valve member 53 shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 7- of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the valve port Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line [3-43 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view along the plane of the line MI 5 in Fig. 2 showing the central valve member in softening position;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view along the plane of the line |4l4 in Fig. 2 showing the central valve member in backwashing position;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view along the plane of the line Mlfl in Fig. 2 showing the central valve member in by-pass (salt cycle) position; and

Fig. 1'7 is a horizontal sectional view along the plane of the line l4-l4 in Fig. 2 showing the central valve member in the rinse position.

Referring now to the drawings in Fig. 1 is shown a washing machine 20 having a. tub 200; provided with a detergent door 20b and a clothes door 200. 2| mounted in a bearing 21a and driven by an electric motor 22 through a two speed gear reduction 23 and a belt 24. The gear reduction is provided with a gear shifting solenoid 25, and the gearing is such that with the solenoid 25 de-, energized the rotor turns at a moderate speed for example about 60 R. P. M. while with solenoid 25 energized the rotor turns at a relatively high Wherein the tub is a perforated rotor' speed for example about 300 R. P. M. A pump 25 also driven by motor 22 is adapted to drain the tub to waste through a tube 2? and a no mally closed outlet solenoid valve 2%. The tub is also provided with a float switch 29 actuated by a float 29a in a float well 2% communicating with the tub 2lla through a connection 220. The float switch is closed when the tub is empty and opens whenthe water in the tub hasrisen to a predetermined level. Supplies of coldand hot water are connected to tube 32 through normally closed inlet solenoid valves 38a and 3%, respectively. The incoming water passes a thermostatic switch Bl and flows then through tube 32 to the water softening means 32 and from the water softening means to a spray nozzle 39c discharging into the tub 29a.

The master timer has a synchronous motor 33 with integral gear reduction adapted to rotate shaft 33 by means of one way drive clutch 35. Shaft 32 carries a controller drum 3t made/of electrically non-conductive material. To facilitate understanding the drum 36 is shown. de= veloped in Fig. l. Shaft 3 furthermore drives, by means of bevel gears 35a, a pointer iii co= operating with a stationary dial 38. Thus, with the motor 33 running the drum 36 and the pointer rotate in the direction of the arrows. The drum 35-may also be turned in the same direction manually in which case the clutch 35 slips sothat the motor 33 stands still or runs at its normal speed, whichever the case may be.

The drum 38 is adapted to establish difierent electrical circuits through four pairs of contacts S, M, O, and I cooperating respectively with four sets of contact plates mounted on the drum. viz. S-i, and 8-2; '\dl and iii-2; 0-H, 0-2 and O-3; and I-i, I--2, iii-3, I-il and I--5. Each of the four pairs of contacts has one contact connected to one incoming power lead, and the second contact to the other power lead as follows: from S through the speed regulating solenoid 25; from M through motors 22 and 33 in parallel; from 0 through the solenoid of out let valve 28; and from I through float switch 22 in series with the solenoids of inlet valves 32a and 30b arranged in parallel to each other. The

thermostatic switch 3! and a manual switch 32 are additionally connected in series with the solenoid of the cold water inlet valve 39a.

The water-softening means 32 as' shown in Fig. 2 comprises a container til for water-softening material M. The container is provided at its top with a rotary multiway slide valve 52 aifixed to the head ring 43 by the screws at with gaskets Ma under their heads. The rotary multiway valve comprises a valve handle 65 fixedly attached by the pin 46 to' the valve stem 61. The valve stem 4'! enters the valve cap 48 through the packing gland A9 provided with the packing 5i and packing nut 52. To the lower end of the valve stem is affixed the rotary valve member 53 maintained .in slidable relation to the port plate 5 3 by the spring 55. The port plate 5a is superimposed upon the main valve body 58, the valve cap 48, port plate 54 and valve body 55, together forming the casing of the valve, being maintained in position by the screws 64. A pipe 57 communicates with the interior of the valve casing through the opening 58 in the main valve body. Pipe 51 extends to the bottom of the container 40 and is provided at its'lower end with:

a strainer 59. Recess98in the main valve body which communicates with the inside of the contamer at its top is providedwith a strainer plate 3 there is provided a name-plate 65 which in cooperation with the pointer 56 fixedly attached to the valve stem 41 indicates the position of the valve for softening, backwash, salt treatment, and rinse.

By rotation of the valve handle 45 the rotary valve member 53, which is provided with the opening 18 and the channel 1| as shown in Figs. .6 and '7, is adapted to effect communication between the chamber 12 of the valve cap 48, through selected ports in the port plate 54, and the various openings and recesses of the valve body 56. Thus by rotation of the valve handle through the four positions indicated on the name-plate 55, water from the inlet 83 may be caused to follow any one of four differentpaths of flow to the outlet 84.

The valve cap 48 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 contains a single chamber I2 having an opening in the top through which the valve stem 41 enters. It is also provided with'th'e drilled bosses 58 adapted to receive the screws 44.

The port plate 54 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is provided with a plurality of ports 80, 8|, 82, 83, 84, 85, 88, 81, 88, 89 and 99.

The main valve body 56 is-shown in Figs. 10 through I 3 having the water inlet'63 communicating with its upper face through the passage 9| and provided with the recesses 92-and 93.

The recess 93 is provided with the passageway 94 communicating with thewater outlet 84. Openings 9-5, 98 and 91 are also provided at the upper face of the valve body, all of which communicate with the recess 98 on the underside of th main valve body'which opens into the top of container 88 through strainer plate 8 i.

In addition to the valve opening the container entering through'the inlet 63, passage 9|, ports 80 and 8| into chamber 12 flows down through 'opening 10 and port 88 into recess 93 and to the outlet 84 through passage 94. In this position the inside of container 48 is thus entirely disconnected from the flow of water.

In the rinse position (Fig. 1'71 water enters through inlet 63, passage 9|, ports 80 and 8| into chamber 12. It then passes through opening 18 and flows throughports 86 and Bl. The portion of the water flowing through port Bl enters recess 93 and is discharged to the outlet 64 through passage 94. The portion of the water flowing through port 86 passes through opening 91 into recess 98 andthen into the top of the container 49 through strainer plate 6|. The water then goes down through the water-softening material. It enters pipe 5'| through strainer 59 and rises through opening 58 into recess 92 in the main valve body. It then fiows through port 83, channel H and port 90 into recess 93 from which it is discharged through passage 94 and outlet 64 together with the stream coming from port 81.

When the water-softening means of my invention is used in conjunction with a washing machine having an automatic water feed as shown of clothes.

88 is provided with an opening |8| fitted with the screw plug I82 having the handle I03 and with an opening H15 in its side near the top fitted with the drain valve I86. 'A stoppered opening (not shown) is also usually provided in the bottom of the container 48.

Operation of the valve 42 is as follows: In the softening position (Fig. 14) water enters the main valve body through the inlet 83 and flows through passage 9| and ports 88 and 8| into chamber 12 in the valve cap. It then flows through the opening 19 in the rotary valve member 53 and through port 82 in the port plate and opening 95 in the main valve body into recess 98 from which it discharges into the container. The water then flows downward through the watersoftening bed, through the strainer 59 and up through the pipe 51 and opening 58 into the recess 92. It then passes through port 85, channel II and port 90 into recess 93 and thence to the outlet 64 through passage 94.

In the backwash position (Fig. 15) water enters through the inlet 83, passage 9|, ports 80 and 8| into chamber 12. It flows down through opening 18 and port 89 into recess 92 and through opening 58 into pipe 51. It then passes through strainer 59 up through the waterso ftening bed and through strainer plate 6| into recess 98 in the bottom of the valve. From recess 98 it passes up through opening 96 and port 84 into channel ll, down through port 90 into recess 93 and thence to the outlet 64 through passage 94.

In the salt treating position (Fig. 16) water in Fig. 1 the valve is set in the softening position so that all water entering the water feed system during its normal cycle, whether for use in soaking, washing or rinsing the clothes or other materials being handled, passes through the bed of water-softening material be'fore being'delivered to the washer.

In operation, first the handle 45 of the softening means is turned to the softening position and a load of clothes or other articles is placed in the Washing machine. The manual switch 39 is either left open or closed, depending on the type With switch 39 open the circuit through the solenoid of the cold water inlet valve 38a is interrupted so that this valve remains closed and hot water only is supplied to the washing machine. With switch 39 closed the solenoid of the cold water inlet valve 39a is intermittently energized and deenergized under control of the thermostatic switch so that hot and cold water are mixed to provide the desired. temperature, for example about F., for washing woolens and other delicate fabrics without injury.

The pointer 31 of the master timer is then ad- I vanced by hand to the soak position (the position in which pointer and drum are shown in Fig. 1) whereupon contacts M and I are closed by plates M--| and I|, respectively. Both motors are energized, the timing motor 33 turning the drum and the pointer, and the motor 22' turning the rotor 2| so that the clothes are tumbled about. At the same time water is admitted through nozzle 300 until it reaches a,

suitable level in the tub whereupon its further flow is stopped by the opening of float switch 29.

Shortly thereafter, the inlet circuit is further inby the opening of float switch 29. A quantity of detergent is inserted through door 20b. The machine then completes. its operating cycle without further attention. The outlet valve is opened when plate -2 reaches contacts 0 and the soapy water is drained out.

Water for rinsing is admitted by plate I-3 reaching contacts Iand drains out of the tub through the still open outlet valve. *When plate Si reaches contacts'S the gear shift solenoid 25 isenergized and the rotor speed is stepped up whereby water remaining in the clothes is removed by centrifugal action. When plate O--2 has passed contacts 0 the outlet valve closes and the plate S--l will have passed contacts S deenergizing the speed regulating solenoid and returning the rotor to its moderate operating speed. Plate I-fl then reaches contacts I which causes inlet valves Sta and 3% to open admitting more water for a second rinse, then shut ofi by the float switch 29 and the clothes tumble through the water in' the tub until the outlet valve is opened by plate v0-3 The water inlet isand the'tub is drained. Plate I-5 then opens the water inlet again for a third rinse which is identical with the first rinse, including centrifuging under control of plate S2. Finally plate M-i leaves contacts M, thus stopping both motors with'all valves closed. The clothes are ready for removal, washed, rinsed and wrung out.

When a sumcient amount of water has been used in the washing machine to substantially exhaust the softening capacity of the watersoftening material it becomes necessary to regenerate the water softening material. The amount of water that can be softened before regeneration is necessary will depend upon the hardness of the water being used. During the regeneration treatment one complete cycle of the automatic water feed is used and the water is run to waste.

' In the first step oi the regenerating process the handle as of the water softening means is set to the backwash position and the master timer is advanced to soak position. The amount of water used in the, soaking operation of the normal cycle of the washer thus is used to backwash the softening means 32. Restriction of ports at and'de prevents backwashing at an excessively high rate of flow which might carry some zeolite particles away. During this operation the tub a of the washer 29 fills up and opens float switch 29 when a proper amount of water has been used.

When the flow oil water has stopped, the han-' die-551s set to salt position. The drain valve let in the softening means is opened and plug cap 52 is removed so that the water in the top of container-d0 is drained out to the level of the valve to make room for the regenerating chemical and the valve is closed. A suitable amount of regenerating chemical such as common salt-is introduced into container d0 through opening mi and the cap N2 is replaced. In the meantime the washer will have been operating as in the normal soaking .cycle and the water lu'the tub 2841 will have been drained out through valve 2% at the end of the-operation.

After the soawng cycle is complete the handle as is set at'the rinse position and the master 'timeris set atthe wash position. The washer then operates as described above in connection with the normal washing and rinsing cycle.

Water flows through the softening means under control by the washing machine, a portion-of it passing through the softening bed and a portion flowing directly from the inlet to the outlet. as

softener at the beginning of the wash step serves to dissolve the salt, leaving the interstices of the zeolite bed 6! filled with brine. The salt solution may thus react with the zeolite for a period equal to the normal washing period. During the following three rinse steps the spent saltsolution ls then-flushed to waste. Ports 86 and 81 are restricted in such manner that the first quantity of water passing through the tank slowly dissolves the salt without flushing any substantial portion from the tank, and the following quantities passing in the three rinse steps of the washer efi'ect thorough rinsing of the softening bed without passing so much water through it as to substantially reduce its regenerated softening capacity.

Regeneration of the softening material has been completed as soon as the washing machine has finished its cycle and valve handle @5 is thereupon set in the softening position. The softening means and automatic washing machine are then ready for further. use in the washing of clothes or other articles.

-While I have described my invention herein with particular reference to a specific form of apparatus and mode of operation, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the details of such apparatus and mode of operation except as hereinafter defined in the ap-.

ing steps and including a tub and a water feed automatically controlled to successively supply predetermined quantities of water to the tub during its sequence of steps, and a water softener interposed between the water feed and the tub and containing regenerative water softening material, the said water feed and water softener cooperating alternately to soften the water supplied to said tub and to regenerate the water softening material by using said successive quantities to define successive steps of regenerating.

2. In combination, a washing machine automaticaily operated through a sequence of washing steps and including a tub and a water feed automatically controlled to successively supply predetermined quantities of water at a substannately to soften the water supplied to said tub and to regeneratethe water softening material by using said successive quantities to define successive steps of regenerating, and valve means having'connections to the water feed, the water softener and the tub and adapted to direct a portion of the water through the water softening materialto thetub at a rate substanially smaller than said substantially constant rate and to direct the remaining portion directly from the water feed to the tub.

3.'In combination, a washing machine automatically operated through a sequence of washing steps and including a tub and a water feed automatically controlled to successively supplypredetermined quantities of water to the tub during its sequence of steps, a water softener interposed between the water feed and the tub adjustable to different positions so as to direct the water downwardly through the water softening material to the tub, to direct the water up wardly through the water softening material to 5 the tub, and to direct a portion of the water downwardly through the water softening material to the tub while directing the remaining portion directly from the water feed to the tub.

' ERIC PICK. 

